Since opening our Islington office in September 2017, we have proudly partnered with Islington Giving who are an independent group of local businesses, residents, voluntary organisations and funders who work together to combat social inequality in the Islington borough.
Since 2010, Islington Giving has raised over £5 million; every penny of which has been awarded as grants to local voluntary organisations targeting key issues in the borough. Our involvement in events and fundraising enables them to grow and develop, as well as offering an opportunity to reach new audiences via our social media and content platforms. Our partnership enables us to develop a deeper understanding of the people and places that make Islington the varied and exciting place it is and will allow us to join the effort to help the whole community grow and develop over time.
To celebrate our partnership’s one-year anniversary, our Islington office managers, Paul and Brian, sat down with the Islington Giving team and reflected on the last 12 months.
How would you describe your first year in Islington?
With over 190 estate agencies in the Borough of Islington, we had a tough job establishing ourselves, but our neighbours and the local community have made us feel incredibly welcome. Since we opened the branch we’ve gone from strength-to-strength, gaining a reputation for great customer service and local expertise, and always delivering great results for our clients. We’re both Islington residents but through working here and meeting the people who call this place home, we’ve both learnt so much more about the area, whether that be a new place to have lunch or chic bar to try out at the weekend – there’s always more to see!
What have been the highlights?
We had a very successful 0% commission campaign when we opened in Islington, bringing on 67 properties in the first two months. Our team has settled well into the area and people now know us for going above and beyond to achieve results. One of our most memorable transactions was selling a property in Charing Cross for £200k more than other agents said it was worth. However, the real highlight must be having the opportunity to work in this beautiful and diverse area of London every day.
What do you like best about being in Islington?
The community in this part of London is as diverse as the properties. Every day we’re meeting people from different walks of life and learning new things about the area from different perspectives. Islington has so many places to visit and explore, and every meeting results in a new restaurant recommendation or a tip about a great local event.
Have you felt welcomed into the Islington community?
Our neighbours and the wider community have been incredibly welcoming. Everyone we meet is proud to call this corner of London home, and the sense of community in Islington is great to see. We have also worked hard to cultivate local relationships over the last year, and a lot of people living here now know and trust the Marsh & Parsons brand.
How has partnering with Islington Giving affected your view of the area?
As we both live in Islington, we were already aware of the great work Islington Giving is doing. We were therefore thrilled to find out Marsh & Parsons would be partnering with the organisation. Working with them more closely has given us a greater appreciation of the numerous projects they have introduced and the importance of them to the area and community. We’re particularly supportive of the organisations support of young people, to help them break the cycle of poverty and encourage aspirations, by giving them the tools to realise that they can succeed through hard work, commitment and dedication, regardless of where they started in life.
Has our work with Islington Giving allowed you to get more involved with the local community?
It’s certainly has made us feel more involved and having the opportunity to give back to a community that has been so welcoming to us is something we’re very grateful for. This partnership has made us all more aware of the challenges people face in the borough and what we can do to help them.
What are you looking forward to most next year?
Our main aim is to keep growing the reputation of the office by offering great service to our clients and getting involved in the local community. We’re also looking forward to getting to know Islington better – after all, it’s famous for having more restaurants than days in the year, so we’ll try to tick off a few more of those!
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